Indonesia accused of Aceh abuses

The Indonesian military in Aceh is pursuing a campaign of killings, disappearances and civilian beatings, a human rights organisation has said.

18 Dec 2003 15:03 GMT

Indonesia launched its military offensive on Aceh in May

A Human Rights Watch report on Thursday said Acehnese refugees inter

viewed in Malaysia have revealed widespread abuses in the Indonesian province.

Aceh has been effectively closed to observers since martial law was imposed in May, when the Indonesian military moved in to crush the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

HRW said the province should immediately be opened to independent observers, journalists and humanitarian agencies.

Widespread

This would serve as a deterrent to further abuses and would provide much needed humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by war.

"Every Acehnese we interviewed had a story of abuse to tell," said Brad Adams, executive director of HRW's Asia division.

"We fear that the abuses we have uncovered against the civilian population may be just the tip of the iceberg."

"I saw one of the soldiers handcuff the ankles of this man, andthen another soldier held him by his feet and swung him against a tree.

The soldier did this many times so that the man's head was hitting the tree. His brains were coming out of his head until he was dead"

Aceh torture witness

Witnesses told HRW about village sweeps in which civilians were killed, some while being questioned or detained and others while fleeing in fear of mistreatment.

Targeting civilians

And victims and witnesses recounted in shocking detail how Indonesian forces appear to be targeting young men in Aceh.

"I saw one of the soldiers handcuff the ankles of this man, and then

another soldier held him by his feet and swung him against a tree," one young Acehnese man said.

"The soldier did this many times so that the man's head was hitting the tree. His brains were coming out of his head until he was dead."

HRW said it is concerned many Indonesian soldiers seem to presume all young men in Aceh are GAM fighters, and are targeting civilians indiscriminately.

Public executions

"In case after case, soldiers have gone into Acehnese villagesand publicly executed or beat people seemingly at random," said Adams. "If the aim is to instill fear in the populace, sadly it's working."

The rights organisation has called on the Indonesian military to put an end to ongoing abuses and ensure rights violators are brought to justice.

"It is time for the Indonesian military to take its responsibilities seriously

to follow international law in its conduct of war

," said Adams.

"Establishing accountability for human rights abuses in Aceh and ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice are essential if the decades-long conflict is to be resolved. It is also necessary if Indonesia is to regain credibility with the international community."

The Aceh offensive is Indonesia's largest military campaign since the country's invasion of EastTimor in 1975.

'Terrorist insurgency'

Civilians have been the main casualty of the Aceh conflict

The operation involves an estimated 30,000 troops, who are opposed by an estimated 5000 members of GAM.

Officially, the Indonesian government has said 1200 rebels have been killed since the offensive began in May, but observers say it is impossible to confirm any figures.

Indonesia has said military actions must be seen in the context

of a "war situation", and that atrocities are also being carried out by GAM.

Officials say commanders cannot be expected to have complete control over all of their troops when they are facing a "terrorist" insurgency.